Casperson announces run for U.S. House of Representatives

PublishedNovember 9, 2015

Surrounded by the kind of big rigs and logging equipment that have defined his working life, State Senator Tom Casperson this morning announced his decision to run for the U.S. House of Representatives.

Casperson will also announce his plans this afternoon at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. Over the next week, Casperson will make nearly a dozen stops across the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula to meet with voters and discuss his intention to bring a dose of common sense to Congress.

“Way too often it seems that Washington, D.C. is where common sense goes to die,” said Casperson. “Unaccountable bureaucrats, unresponsive government agencies, regulations, restrictions and taxes. Here in the 1st District, we’ve seen all that and more, and more often than most other places.

“I’m running for Congress because it’s time we make Washington listen to us. I’m running to bring our values, our common sense and our voice to our nation’s Capital.”

Prior to his election to the state legislature, Casperson worked for 27 years in his family’s log trucking business, including 12 years as its owner and operator. That business, Casperson & Son Trucking, was started by his grandfather.

During his time in the legislature, Casperson has been a champion for northern Michigan values, conservation, and the local economy.

“The lessons I took to Lansing when I was first elected are the lessons I learned growing up and running a business here in northern Michigan,” Casperson said. “These are the same lessons – freedom, hard work, fairness, common sense, personal responsibility and accountability – I will bring to Washington.”

Casperson was first elected to the Michigan Senate in 2010, demonstrating his ability to win a tough race and making him the first Republican to ever represent the 38th Senate District. Before being elected to the state Senate he served for six years in the Michigan House of Representatives.

He is running to replace Congressman Dan Benishek, who in September announced his plans to retire.